Arayes

Name: Arayes (Lebanese Meat-Stuffed Pitas)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Lebanese
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef (80-85% lean); 2 Roma tomatoes (seeded and finely chopped); 1 small yellow onion (minced); ¼ cup chopped parsley; 2 teaspoons 7 Spice; 2 teaspoons sumac; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper to taste; 4-6 double-ply thick medium pita breads; 2 tablespoons olive oil

Arayes is a quick Lebanese dish featuring ground beef mixed with tomatoes, onions, parsley and warm spices, stuffed inside thick pita bread and pan-fried until crispy. It's a portable, satisfying meal ready in under 30 minutes.

🌍Lebanese 🌍Mediterranean 🏷️Beef arayes 🏷️Beef stuffed pitas 🏷️Stuffed pita with beef

Total

20 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$22–$36

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Feelgoodfoodie

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef (80-85% lean)
2 Roma tomatoes (seeded and finely chopped)
1 small yellow onion (minced)
¼ cup chopped parsley
2 teaspoons 7 Spice
2 teaspoons sumac
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper to taste
4-6 double-ply thick medium pita breads
2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

1
Place the ground beef, tomatoes, onions, parsley, 7 Spice, sumac, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
2
Cut each pita into half. Pull apart the two sides of the pita. Spoon about 3-4 tablespoons of the beef mixture inside each pita half and close.
3
Heat a grill pan or regular pan on medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
4
Place four of the stuffed pitas on the grill pan and cook until the pita is golden in color and beef is cooked to your liking, about 10 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Repeat with the remaining olive oil and the remaining stuffed pitas.
5
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
6
Place the stuffed pitas on a baking dish and brush with the olive oil. Bake until the pita is golden and crispy and the beef is cooked to your liking, about 10 minutes.
7
Serve hot immediately with plain yogurt for dipping, if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Use 80-85% lean ground beef to avoid excessive grease pooling in the pan while frying.
Seed and finely chop tomatoes to reduce moisture in the filling, preventing soggy pitas.
Fry on medium to medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes per side until the pita is golden and crispy; the meat finishes cooking as the exterior crisps.
Press the open edge of the stuffed pita gently closed before frying to seal the filling and prevent leaking.

Substitutions

Ground lamb → ground beef (more traditional, slightly stronger flavor)
Roma tomatoes → finely diced fresh tomatoes or 2-3 tablespoons tomato paste (paste reduces moisture)
7 Spice + sumac + cinnamon → baharat blend (simplifies spicing, though loses sumac's tanginess)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooked arayes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side to restore crispness.

Common Questions

Can I prepare arayes ahead of time?

Yes. Mix the meat filling and refrigerate up to 24 hours, or assemble the stuffed pitas up to 4 hours ahead and pan-fry just before serving.

What is 7 Spice and can I substitute it?

7 Spice is a Middle Eastern blend of allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, coriander and ginger. You can approximate it with equal parts cinnamon, allspice and black pepper, or use baharat as a swap.